About The Park

Across more than 800 square miles of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to amazing wildlife, breathtaking views, and some of the oldest mountains in the world.
Find the information you need to plan your next adventure!

Wildlife

The park is home to many species animal including black bears, elk, white-tailed deer, turkeys, salamanders, hundreds of native and migratory birds, and more.Much of the park is covered in forest, so open areas like Cataloochee Valley and Cades Cove offer great opportunities for viewing wildlife.

Remember: It is illegal to approach within 150 feet of wild animals in the park, so bring your binoculars or zoom lens for your camera. And do NOT feed wildlife.

Wildflowers

On any given spring day, there may be as many as 1 million wildflowers in bloom all around the park.

Depending on elevation and species, you can find flowers, trees and shrubs in bloom every month of the year. For more information on wildflowers and peak seasons, click here.

Waterfalls

Ample rainfall (85″+ per year) and elevation gradients in the Smokies are the perfect recipe for waterfalls. Sizes and flow can range from small trickles found on most streams, to cascades and waterfalls up to 100 feet high. Some of the most popular waterfalls are:

Auto Touring

There are 384 miles of road to choose from in the Smokies. Most are paved, and even the gravel roads are maintained in suitable condition for standard passenger cars. Some of the most popular routes include:

Fishing

The park has nearly 3,000 miles of streams and protects one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern US. Fishing is permitted in all streams, year-round, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

You must possess a valid fishing license or permit from either Tennessee or North Carolina. Either state license is valid throughout the park and no trout stamp is required. Fishing licenses and permits are not available in the park, but may be purchased in nearby towns or online.

For more information on possession & size limits, lures & bait, and fish species in the park, click here.

Historic Buildings

The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern US. Over 90 historic structures—houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools, and grist mills—have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. Some of the best places to see these structures are: